The criminal justice and corrections systems in Canada face many challenges. Restorative justice is a movement that looks at crime in new ways. It offers opportunities to deal with those challenges.

This issue provides readers an opportunity to begin to understand both the challenges the system faces and the nature of restorative justice. It is a part of our being a church In Mission for Others.

However we need to be aware that “Restorative justice is not a quick fix,” as one former prison chaplain, Rev. Terry Richardson, explains. “It has to be voluntary, safe and driven by the needs of the victim.”

Every ELCIC congregation and member is encouraged to participate in this prayerful approach. My hope is that the feature article will take some of us beyond prayer to grasping opportunities to become part of the solution to these complex challenges.

The feature tells a few stories of situations where restorative justice worked and provides useful advice about how congregations and individuals can get involved.

Glimpses

There are a number of places in this issue that provide opportunities for reflection and conversation.

Into the Word (p. 15) examines a subject very much in the news; sexuality, sexual identity and sexual attraction.

If you’ve ever wondered why we need pastors, check out Q & A (p. 8).

If you need something so that you can give yourself a good talking-to, try Life is a Garden…Dig It! (p. 9). This is one of the responses that have begun to trickle in answering our request for readers to try their hand at writing for Practising Our Faith. How about you?

We also need some shutterbugs to help us out with in sight. The opportunities for pictures that tell the story of our church are there if we keep our eyes and our lens open.

Kenn Ward, Editor

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